Shoe with changeable upper design

ABSTRACT

A shoe with changeable upper design includes a shoe body having a sole and an upper connected to the sole. The upper has an outer surface provided with at least one decorative portion which includes an indented surface and a first pattern provided on the indented surface. At least one decorative pad having a front side provided with a second pattern is further provided. The decorative pad is attachable to and removable from the indented surface of the upper so that the first and second patterns can be interchangeably presented on the upper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shoe, more particularly to a shoewith changeable upper design

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, various bright and elegant colors are used on a shoe toenhance the aesthetic quality and distinction of the outer appearance ofthe shoe. In addition, various patterns are directly printed on theouter surface of the shoe, or are attached to the outer surface of theshoe body by sewing or adhesive, and such patterns include, forinstance, cartoon characters, trademark symbols and figures, objects offashion and other configurations or designs. While such variations inthe colors used and the patterns formed on the shoe may indeed achievethe effect of making the shoe more attractive and pleasing to the eyes,the conventional shoe is designed with only one fixed form of patternbecause the pattern or color is formed on the shoe by printing, or bysewing or attaching a pattern or color layer. In a society of diverseculture and interests with constant craving for changes and strongfashion trend, a shoe design will become obsolete even before itsnewness has worn off. There is therefore a demand for a shoe which hasan outer surface or upper design that can be varied as necessary to meetthe trend or fashion of the times or the preference of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoewith changeable outer surface design in which the variation of the outersurface design can be made simply and easily.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a shoe with changeable upperdesign, which comprises a shoe body including a sole and an upperconnected to the sole, the upper having an outer surface provided withat least one decorative portion which includes an indented surface and afirst pattern provided on the indented surface; and at least onedecorative pad having a front side provided with a second pattern, thedecorative pad being attachable to and removable from the indentedsurface so that the first and second patterns can be interchangeablypresented on the upper.

The decorative pads are designed with various patterns based on varioussubjects and to fit on the indented surfaces on the upper such that asubstantially smooth overall outer surface of the upper is provided, andare preferably capable of being attached and detached repeatedly andeasily

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view illustrating a first preferredembodiment of the shoe with changeable upper design according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 1 in the assembled state;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, sectional view of the first preferred embodimentshowing the attachment of a decorative pad on a decorative portion ofthe shoe upper;

FIG. 5 shows various decorative pads provided with related patterns inseries;

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view showing a second preferredembodiment of the shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 6 in the assembled state;

FIG. 8 is an exploded, perspective view of a third preferred embodimentof the shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 8 in the assembled state; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded, perspective view of the third embodiment shownin FIG. 8, in which an additional male-and-female fastener unit is usedtherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description of the preferred embodiments of the shoeaccording to the present invention, it should be noted that likenumerals are used to denote like elements.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a shoe generally comprises a shoe body 100including a sole 1, an upper 3 connected to the sole 1 and extendingfrom around the edges of the sole 1 to define a top opening 2 forinsertion of a foot, a tongue opening part 4 with a plurality of eyelets30 formed on the peripheral edges thereof, and a shoelace 5 insertedinto the eyelets 30. According to a first preferred embodiment of theshoe with changeable upper design of the present invention, the upper 3has an outer surface 31 provided with a plurality of decorative portionseach of which includes an indented surface 33 and a first pattern 34provided on the indented surface 33. A decorative pad 7 having a frontside 72 provided with a second pattern 73 is used to vary the design onthe upper 3, that is, to change each first pattern 34 presented on theouter surface 31 of the upper 3. The decorative pad 7 is attached to theindented surface 33 to overlay the first pattern 34 and present thesecond pattern 73 on the upper 3 instead. The decorative pad 7 isdesigned to be removable from the indented surface 33 so as to bereplaceable by another decorative pad 7 provided with a differentpattern when the outer shoe design is intended to be changed again, andto match the form or shape of the corresponding indented surface 33 sothat, when attached to the indented surface 33, the outer surface 31 ofthe upper 33 is substantially smooth and even. Slight bulging, however,would still be acceptable.

In the first preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, fourirregularly shaped decorative portions, and hence four indented surfaces33 with four first patterns 34, are provided on a front portion 311, arear portion 312, and two sides 313,314 of the upper 3, respectively,and four corresponding decorative pads 7 are provided for attachment tothe four indented surfaces 33.

To facilitate attachment of the decorative pad 7 to the indented surface33, the back side 71 of the decorative pad 7 may be coated fully orpartially with an adhesive layer 6, as shown in FIG. 4. The adhesivelayer 6 may be of such materials as silicone, PU resin, acrylic resin orother rubber materials, and may be added with magnetic powders toenhance the adhesive effect. Furthermore, it is preferred that theadhesive layer has the property of being repeatedly attachable andreleasable from adhesion.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the four decorative pads 7 are attached to thefour indented surfaces 33, not only are the patterns shown on the upper3 changed, but the overall appearance of the shoe is enhanced by the newpatterns presented thereon. The four first patterns 34 originallypresented on the upper 3 are the Zodiac signs of wind (Gemini, Libra andAquarius). Other groups of Zodiac signs, such as water (Cancer, Scorpio,and Pieces), earth (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) and fire (Aries, Leoand Sagittarius), or other series of patterns or words that manifest anintegral expression, may be used. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, thefour patterns 73 on the four decorative pads 7 consist of figures of abaseball pitcher in the four sequential acts of pitching the ball. Whenthese four decorative pads 7 are attached to the corresponding fourindented surfaces 33 as shown in FIG. 2, the overall outer appearance ofthe shoe body 100 is changed and replaced by an interesting designeffected by the series of patterns presented.

FIGS. 6 and 7 shows a second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention in which the upper 3, as in the first preferred embodiment, isformed to have four decorative portions, and hence four indentedsurfaces 33. In this embodiment, however, only three decorative pads 7are used. One of the decorative pads 7 is enlarged and is attached onthe two indented surfaces 33 on the two sides 313,314 of the upper 3crossing over the tongue opening part 4 and covering most of theshoelace 5, as shown in FIG. 7. The other two decorative pads 7 aresimilar to those in the first preferred embodiment and are attached tothe other two indented surfaces 33, i.e., those in the front and rearportions 311,312 of the upper 3.

With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 which shows a third preferred embodimentof the present invention, the upper 3 has four decorative portions as inthe first preferred embodiment, and hence four indented surfaces 33.However, this embodiment differs from the previously describedembodiments in that the upper 3 further includes four connectingrecesses 35 each provided between two adjacent ones of the decorativeportions. Furthermore, the four decorative pads 7 are interconnectedintegrally to form a unitary piece of a corresponding shape to that ofthe connecting recesses 35 and indented surfaces 33 so as to be receivedtherein in its entirety. This unitary piece not only provides simplerand easier attachment and detachment of the decorative pad, but alsoexpresses a more interesting appearance by the integrated series ofpatterns 73 formed on the unitary piece.

With reference to FIG. 10, the third preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is shown to further include a fastener unit consisting of aplurality of male fasteners 8 and a plurality of female fasteners 9,each of which is provided between one of the decorative pads 7 and oneof the indented surfaces 33 to reinforce the attachment of the adhesivelayer 6. In this embodiment, two male fasteners 8 are provided on eachdecorative pad 7, and two female fasteners 9 are formed on the eachdecorative portion on the upper 3. However, it is also possible to formthe male fasteners 8 on the decorative portions and the female fasteners9 on the decorative pads 7. The engagement between the male and femalefasteners 8,9 enhances the positioning of the decorative pads 7 whichare formed as a unitary piece having a larger area, and preventinadvertent detachment thereof.

The male-and-female fastening unit is applicable to all embodiments ofthe present invention. It is, however, particularly preferred in thethird embodiment where an adhesive layer 6 alone might not be sufficientto provide reliable attachment of the decorative pads 7 in view of thegreater area of the unitary piece formed by four decorative pads 7. Theuse of the male-and-female fastening unit in addition to the adhesivelayer 6 enhances the attachment and positioning of the decorative pads 7onto the decorative portions of the upper 3 and inadvertent peeling offmay be avoided.

While in the various embodiments described above, the patterns 34 on theupper 3 and the patterns 73 on the decorative pads 7 are related tosports and the Zodiac signs, they certainly and naturally may bedirected to other subjects and designs.

The shoe according to the present invention allows for replacement ofthe design on the upper 3 according to a user's taste and fashion senseor personal preference. In contrast to the conventional shoe which isprovided with a fixed pattern or design, the patterns on the shoe of thepresent invention may be varied to conform to the location of use or tothe different moods of the user. As long as decorative pads 7 of variouspatterns are available, it is not necessary to have a number of shoes tosuit every occasion and the moods and whims of the user and to followthe fashion trend, since the pattern(s) on the shoe may be simplyreplaced. The design may be changed according to the fashion and trendto thereby satisfy man's desire for change and constant search forsomething new.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or centralcharacteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details givenherein.

1. A shoe with a changeable upper design comprising: a shoe bodyincluding a sole and an upper connected to said sole, said upper havingan outer surface provided with at least one decorative portion whichincludes an indented surface and a first pattern provided on saidindented surface; and at least one decorative pad having a front sideprovided with a second pattern, said decorative pad being attachable toand removable from said indented surface so that said first and secondpatterns can be interchangeably presented on said upper.
 2. The shoe asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said outer surface of said upper is providedwith a plurality of said decorative portions, and a plurality of saiddecorative pads.
 3. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein saiddecorative pad further includes a back side provided with an adhesivelayer.
 4. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of saiddecorative pads has a shape substantially corresponding to that of saidindented surface of each of said decorative portions, said decorativepads being attachable to said indented surfaces, respectively.
 5. Theshoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein said upper further includesconnecting recesses each provided between two adjacent ones of saiddecorative portions for interconnecting said indented surfaces of saiddecorative portions, and said decorative pads being interconnectedintegrally to form a unitary piece which can be received in its entiretyby said connecting recesses and said indented surfaces.
 6. The shoe asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said upper further includes a tongue openingpart, and two of said decorative portions are respectively provided ontwo sides of said tongue opening part, one of said decorative pads beingattached to said two of said indented surfaces of said decorativeportions on said upper crossing over said tongue opening part.
 7. Theshoe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a male-and-femalefastener unit between said decorative pad and said indented surface.